Palmer says no to Katter party alliance

Queensland mining magnate and former Liberal National Party heavyweight
Clive Palmer
has ruled out forming a political alliance with federal Independent MP
Bob Katter
ahead of this year’s federal election.

While speculation has intensified in recent months about the two outspoken figures joining forces in a single party or as an alliance against the major parties, Mr Palmer ruled out any coalition on Monday.

“I don’t wish to align with or join any political party," Mr Palmer said in a statement.

“We need all political points of view to work together to protect our democracy and values of the community."

Mr Katter said there had been some preliminary meetings with Mr Palmer to “find some common ground" but there were some obstacles on issues such as public ownership of rail assets in the Galilee Basin where Mr Palmer has coal interests.

Mr Katter said his party had more than 3000 members and was gaining 100 members every three weeks, so there was a less of a need to merge with another political party.

“We are looking for support wherever we can get it.

“Obviously, [Mr Palmer] has got a lot of money but we didn’t believe we could come to terms on anything," Mr Katter told The Australian Financial Review.

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“We are not a party that needs to compromise. We believe very strongly the government should build and own assets."

Mr Palmer, who resigned from the LNP late last year after becoming a vocal critic of the Queensland government and its policies, had toyed with forming his own political party to rival Katter’s Australian Party in the state parliament.

Two MPs who defected from the LNP, Alex Douglas and Carl Judge, were expected to represent the new party in Queensland.

An alliance with the rural-based Katter’s Australian Party was another option but it has now been abandoned.

Katter’s Australian Party has three MPs in the 89-seat state parliament, and the polls predict it could pick up more seats in the federal election.

The party is expected to run between 50 and 60 candidates for lower house seats at the next federal poll as well as Senate candidates in most states.